Curriculum Vitae

Date and Place of Birth: 21/9/1947 – Amchit (District: Jbeil)
Province: Mount Lebanon
Address: Aamchit – Al Saha – St Antonios
Street – In his property
Marital Status: Married to Florence Ida Bonnat (French nationality) and has two children: Maya and Marc Antoine

Certificates:

- License and University Post-Graduate Degree in Theatre and Directing – Institute of Fine Arts (Lebanese University 1972)
- License in Arabic Language and Literature – Pedagogy (Lebanese University 1972)
- Doctorate in Directing and Theatrical Science (Paris, France – Sorbonne 1977) – Grade A (See the portfolio of the professor at the faculty)
- Journalist, Images Reporter (International School of Bordeaux)

Career:

- Professor in the cadre in the Institute of Fine Arts (2) since 1980
- Head of the Department of Acting in the Institute of Fine Arts (2) (1999-2001) actually in 2005 (Theatre Department)
- Member in the Scientific Committee – Institute of Fine Arts (Lebanese University) – Member in the Committee of Certificates’ Verification and Equivalence
- Member of the Committee of Program’s elaborating in the Institute of Fine Arts – Lebanese University and the High LMD Committee (new program)
- Academic grade: Professor
- Masters professor at the University of Holy Spirit (USEK-Kaslik)

Rewards:

- Major in the session of Arts (grade: very good) – University scholarship to specialize abroad by virtue of the regulation of delegating the brilliants to outside (Paris 1972)
- Holder of theatre badge, Tragedy and Comedy Masks granted by the Minister of Culture – Ministry of Culture – the City Theatre (Clemenceau)
- Holder of best presentation reward in the First Festival of Greek Ancient Drama in Paphos – Cyprus 1998, 2003, 2004 (3rd & 4th) and 2005
- Member of the referee’s committee in the Theatrical Golf Festival – Kuwait 1997
- Guest of Theatrical Festival of Kuwait and interlocutor in its seminar – Kuwait 2005
- Honoring Shield at Joconde Cultural Festival – under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture – Honoring of the distinguished persons in culture and stars.
- Honoring Shield and Appreciation during the first, second and third Culture Festivals (The Apostles Institute – Jounieh)
- Honoring Shield during the 4th Theatrical Arab Festival (Cairo)– April 2005
- Shield of Aamchit Club during the fiftieth (Jubilee)- Shield of Cultural Committee in the region of Jbeil (2005)

Artistic and Moral Production:

- 40 big Theatrical Productions (Acting, Composing, Directing)
- Participation in local and international festivals (… Rennes, Berlin, Munich, Cairo, Marseille, …, Kuwait, London, Prague, Copenhagen…), worldwide seminars and scientific conferences. Seven lectures about the Greek theatre as main interlocutor.
- Several articles, researches, printed publications or not printed
- Two books: Squirrel Cage (in French) and The Perplexed (story)
- Graduated ten sessions from his Atelier (that he manages) in Aamchit (75 actors) from 1982 till this date
- Collection of Poems not printed and journalistic articles and criticism
- Distinguished and estimated artistic production (honoured by the Lebanese University)

Responsibilities:

- Head of the Department of Acting- Institute of Fine Arts (2) Lebanese University (for 2 times)- Actually Theatre Department
- Professors’ Delegate- for 6 years- Institute of Fine Arts
- Member at the Teachers’ League Executive Committee (previously) Lebanese University
- Member at the Actors Syndicate Council and Cultural and Information Secretary
- Head of the Lebanese Theatrical Center (ITI) related to the UNESCO- Branch of Lebanon (currently)
- Founder and Supervisor of the Theatrical Atelier in Aamchit from 1982 till now
- Member in the Association of Lebanese writers
- Member in the Syndicate of Journalism and Writers- Manager and Editor-in-Chief of “Al Nadi Magazine” – a non-political magazine
- President of Aamchit Club (previously) and actually a member of its Consultancy Council
- Member in the Cultural Council in Jbeil
- Head of the Delegates’ Council in the Artistic Syndicates’ Association (2000-2004)
- Honorary member in the high International Committee of Ancient Greek Theatre till this date
- Founder and Director of the Theatrical Core Troupe
- Director of the private atelier for Professional adaptation- Aamchit Theatre

The Theatrical Core Troupe presents “Judas Iscariot”
Composition: Hubert Gignoux
Lebanism and Directing: Dr. Elie A. Lahoud

Actors:

- Judas
- The Satan
- Judas’s Mother
- The Leprous
- The Jewish (1)
- The Jewish (2)
- The Pharisee (1)
- The Pharisee (2)

Speech:

Who among us didn’t know Judas, Jesus’s disciple, who vended him for thirty silver coins?
Who among us didn’t recognize the betrayal and its kiss?
Who didn’t encounter even once the Satan or the Evil Spirit?
The weakness of Human being in front of temptation and money?
The collusion of authorities all together against the word?
The fear of truth that destroys the thrones’ pillars?
The triumph of Evil against the Good
It is an old story but it is still occurring… and will remain… forever.

What is Judas’s play?

Judas is a cry in the heart of an opportunist society, consuming human being day after day without neither pity nor mercy, gasping for a handful of dollars or even thirty silver coins. How is the game of purchase and sell linked to the demagogy, how is the theorization performed, allowing the bargain and the betrayal’s game to pass?

The bribe is a bargain, a deal or a contract. The betrayal is cleverness, smartness or brilliance. The betrayer is unaware that he is a victim, a tool and at the end of the day a stupid not a hero. We are not heroes. Honesty is priceless, as well as loyalty is invaluable.

If we accept to apply the financial regulations and to make of the principles and beliefs commercial and beliefs a commercial, financial, mechanical and automatic context, we will deviate from the right way and everything becomes possible.
Nothing is impossible in a society worshipping money. The tempting Satan is omnipresent, going along with the human being’s act and is ready to whisper in his ears at every moment.
The rigorous, extremist and conflicting Pharisees exist every time and everywhere. The power and money glitters are correlatives and govern humanity at times together and at another time by rotating.

We are surrounded. Dealing with the Universe – its stuff, elements and contradictions as well as the vital elements for its continuity – is imposed on us and we have no escape from its universe dialectic, its fatalism and determinism.

Nevertheless and in the middle of this fascinating and satanic game, we always have to choose. Why do we always have to choose? To agree or to disagree, to belong or not to belong, to be carried away and guided or to object, refuse, withstand or persevere. Why to look for a price for everything…?!

We are both unfree and free. Innocent and accused like Judas.
The game is not concluded. Life flows like a river, without stopping and we stop for a while to wonder… we follow it, running breathless, we are always unaware of its end and we pursue it blissful when we become tied to the body and its delights and the narcissist vanity.

Book: Noyau Théâtral 1982 - 2007
Atelier théâtre d'Amchit
YouTube Film - Amchit Theater workshop - محترف عمشيت للمسرح

Contact: [email protected] - [email protected]
Physical address: Amchit
Telephone: 09/621323 – 03/682305 - Fax: 09/623305